It’s quite exciting for most of us mere mortals to get our name mentioned in the newspaper. Imagine how it would feel to someone living in the first century to have your name in the Bible. There’s a chap called Tychicus – and he managed it five times! (Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7; Titus 3:12; 2 Timothy 4:12)

I wonder if you know who he was – without looking him up. He was probably a fairly ordinary person but he certainly made his mark as a servant of God. Tychicus was a close friend and assistant to Paul. He accompanied him during his journey from Macedonia to Jerusalem, and later helped Paul when he was imprisoned in Rome, before being sent to Ephesus. He was obviously highly regarded by Paul, who described him as ‘much loved’ and a ‘faithful servant ’– a man who considered others as more important than himself, and who conscientiously played his own small but extremely significant part in the mission of Jesus.

In Ephesians 5:1 Paul tells us to ‘be imitators of God’. I wonder if he had Tychicus in mind as an example of someone who closely followed the Lord and was ‘godlike’, reflecting the love, goodness and generosity of God.

On Sundays during August we are meeting with Faversham Community Church and Faversham Gospel Mission. We will be looking at ‘Four Great Guys’ (Barnabas, Jeremiah, the woman with a jar of perfume, and Caleb) – Bible characters who encourage us to be more like Jesus. Tychicus is just such an example for all of us to follow. Lord, help us to live our lives so that we will be like Tychicus – much loved, faithful, servants, your messengers, and encouragers.